The Jeep Patriot is all-new for 2007. It is a compact SUV that is roomy, powerful and economical. It is offered with four-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission. This is one vehicle that is unmistakably a Jeep, and looks like a cross between a Liberty and the new Compass. The standard 60/40 split rear seat folds flat and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional. For off-roading, the Patriot is available with a Freedom II off-road package that makes the Patriot Trail Rated. The Jeep Patriot is built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it doesn't look that small. The 2007 Patriot has a rugged look compared to some Jeeps, and lacks the rounded edges of the Compass. The Compass helps move Jeep further into the realm of car-based sport utility vehicles. Available in both front- and all-wheel-drive variants, standard features include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, side curtain-type airbags and an electronic stability system.

Trims

The Jeep Patriot comes in two models, Sport and Limited, with a choice of 2WD and 4WD. The Sport 2WD and 4WD comes standard with a 172-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission, vinyl seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 with four speakers, halogen headlamps, rear wiper, roof rails, fold-flat 60/40 rear seats, and 16-inch steel wheels with all-season tires. Air conditioning and cruise control do not come standard, and the windows, mirrors and door locks are manual. The Limited 2WD and 4WD adds most if not all of the options in the groups, as well as 17-inch aluminum wheels, foglamps, passenger grab handles, chrome roofrails and other trim, and leather-trimmed seats including freight, with two-wheel drive, manual doors and windows.

Handling

The 2007 Jeep Patriot drives with ease and feels light and nimble. The turning is sharp and the body is well isolated from the wheels. Going over bumps is smooth, as is cruising down the highway. The suspension is as good as the engine. The Patriot is impressively stable and confident.

Powertrain

Chrysler uses a 2.4-liter World engine on the 2007 Jeep Patriot, and this is a great engine for this vehicle. The Patriot has the power it needs, with both trims getting 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque on a five-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission is optional. Drivelines that are available include Freedom Drive I and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package. One of the main differences between the Freedom four-wheel-drive systems is that Freedom Drive II's continuously variable transmission incorporates a low range for difficult offroad driving. Advanced offroad features include Hill Descent Control and offroad Brake Traction Control.

Interior

The 2007 Patriot has two rows of seats that can carry five occupants. The cabin is trimmed in shades of gray or beige. The base Patriot has "Vinyl Tech" seats: premium cloth seating that is designed to prevent staining and discoloration is an option. The standard rear seat is a 60/40 split that easily folds flat, by flipping up the seat and flopping down the seatback. Reclining rear seats are optional, as is a flat-folding front seat. When everything is folded down there is 62.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity, and room for an eight-foot-long cargo. The rear cargo area is covered in Ultra Floor, a washable and removable vinyl. The space between the seats includes a nook for change, two fixed cupholders, and the parking brake lever. A short armrest flips up to open the main console compartment, where there's a pocket for a cellphone. There are door pockets, but they are on the small side; much of the space there is taken up by the six- by nine-inch speakers. The door handles are easy to use and the glove compartment is roomy. The dashboard and instrument layout is simple, and the gauges are a neat white on black with glowing orange needles. The climate and sound system controls are easy to understand and operate. The seating position gives a nice view of the road from the Patriot. The Jeep Patriot excels in rear legroom, beating out both competitors and other Jeep models. A power sunroof and a Leather Interior Group, which includes leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with stereo controls, are available options. The Patriot has a number of uncommon options, too, like a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system with speakers that can swing out of the liftgate when camping, and a cargo area dome light that can be removed and used as a flashlight.

Exterior

The 2007 Patriot is all Jeep. The windshield and backlight are relatively vertical, and the bumpers are defined and not molded into the fascia. They're silver on the Limited and body-colored on the Sport. The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact, built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it doesn’t look small from the outside. Standard steel wheels measure 16 inches in diameter, but 17-inch aluminum wheels are available. With the optional Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package — which includes the driveline hardware that makes the Patriot Trail-Rated — the SUV gets 17-inch all-terrain tires, skid plates, tow hooks and fog lamps. Trail-Rated Patriots have 9 inches of ground clearance.

Safety

The Patriot includes all-disc antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and side curtain-type airbags as standard. A tire pressure monitoring system is optional. Multi-stage frontal airbags, electronic brake-force distribution, and side airbag electronic roll mitigation.

The Patriot is a compact SUV that is available in front-wheel drive or with a four-wheel-drive system with a Lock mode to enhance traction in inclement weather. There are two trims and a variety of options and packages. The Patriot has an additional inch of ground clearance from the Compass. The Patriot draws its power from a 172-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. For an affordable price, Jeep offers comfortable and versatile capability. The Patriot is a great value. It has an estimated fuel economy range of 30 mpg Hwy, and 26 mpg City.